Punish offenders: McEnroe

John McEnroe has called for the ATP to put its house in order and impose the sternest possible penalties against offenders, whether it be for illegal betting or drug-taking, saying: "Surely it's time now for tennis to have its own commissioner."

Greg Rusedski's admission to a positive drug test has come like a hammer blow to the sport after the betting scandal uncovered last year. "We have enough problems in the sport," said McEnroe, "just getting more people to play and getting their attention without this sort of thing happening. It's the last thing we needed."

Notwithstanding a successful appeal by Rusedski on February 9, McEnroe called for the ATP to "come down harshly on him or anyone else" proved guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

"It would be sad if this was the case," said McEnroe, alluding to the British No. 2's attempted comeback from injury, "because it shows the desperate measures people will go to in order to keep up."

McEnroe had suspicions that players were taking drugs back when he was playing. "If you don't have proof you have to back off," he said.